Carson Mcdowell Expands to Accommodate New Recruits

30 September 2015

Carson McDowell has expanded
the size of its offices to accommodate an increase of more than 30 new staff in
the past 12 months.

On October 1, the firm will take over another floor of Murray House in
central Belfast following substantial renovations, meaning Carson McDowell now
occupies four of the five floors of the city centre office building.

Carson McDowell, the Legal 500’s current Law firm of the Year in
Northern Ireland, said its expanded footprint is a statement of intent for the
future. The firm needed the additional space after a growth phase which has
seen it increase its workforce at Partner, Associate, Solicitor and Trainee
level, as well as the recruitment of additional support staff.

The new hires have been recruited into teams working across a wide
range of disciplines including corporate, litigation, banking, commercial
property and healthcare. The firm currently employs 133 staff (78 lawyers),
with 26 new employees joining in the past year and a further six jobs set to be
recruited for before the end of 2015.

Michael Johnston, Managing Partner of Carson McDowell, said the company
was proud not to have downsized following the 2008 financial crisis and noted
that the increase in demand for the firm’s services in recent years should be
taken as a good sign for the Northern Ireland economy.

He said: “Our expansion this year comes as a direct response to the
increase in demand from our clients who are investing in their own growth,
making acquisitions and moving into new markets. We are the law firm of choice
for many of Northern Ireland's Top 100 companies as well as international
companies doing business here and as they grow and adapt so too do we. We have
seen an upturn in the legal sector and we are looking forward to the future
with optimism.”

Mr Johnston added: “As part of our growth plans and to accommodate our
expanding team we have renovated another floor in our office building and we
look forward to moving staff in over the coming weeks. Our firm has an
excellent reputation for attracting the brightest and the best in the
profession and this year has been no different. I have no doubt that each of
our new joiners – from Partners through to our latest intake of trainees - will
play a vital role in providing the high quality legal services to our clients.”

Pictured below are Managing Partner Michael Johnston with some of the firm's new joiners.